Richie Farmer weapons fetch high auction prices

Auctioneer Kenneth Watts holds one of 13 Remington rifles from former Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer that was auctioned in Frankfort. May 5, 2014 (Photo: Michael Clevenger/The Courier-Journal)

Captain Todd Rogers, with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, holds one of the weapons from former Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer. They were auctioned Monday in Frankfort. May 5, 2014 (Photo: Michael Clevenger/The Courier-Journal)

A line of people who were waiting to see merchandise up for auction, including knives and guns belonging to former Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer. May 5, 2014 (Photo: Michael Clevenger/The Courier-Journal)

Mark Marraccini, spokesman for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, holds one of 13 Remington rifles from former Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer that was auctioned in Frankfort. May 5, 2014 (Photo: Michael Clevenger/The Courier-Journal)

Bidders paid a premium Monday for unique pieces of Kentucky's rich traditions of basketball excellence and political corruption that became leftover evidence when Richie Farmer was sentenced to federal prison.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture auctioned 13 Remington hunting rifles and 16 Case knives originally bought in 2008 to be given away as gifts at an agriculture convention, but which prosecutors say ended up in Farmer's home.

When Monday's bidding ended, the knives and guns brought $21,415 — money that the Kentucky Department of Agriculture plans to donate to the Boy's Clubs and Girl's Clubs for an urban garden in western Louisville.

Matt Gosser, 40, who owns a furniture and appliance store in Russell Springs, bought two of the rifles, paying $1,050 for one and $1,100 for the other.

"I bought them for the collector value, something to pass down to my kids," Gosser said. "The prices were a little high, but still, considering the collectability of them, not too bad."

Gosser described himself as a big University of Kentucky basketball fan and said he considers the guns "an heirloom" that he plans to "stick in the safe." He said he would likely never fire them.

The rifles — with scope and carrying case and stamped with the "Kentucky Proud" logo — originally cost $544 each, but sold Monday for between $1,000 and $1,400 each. The top price of $1,400 was bid for a rifle described as Farmer's own, which has a serial number ending in "32" — Farmer's jersey number when he played basketball for the University of Kentucky. The buyer of that gun declined to comment.

The Case knives, in gift boxes stamped with Farmer's name, originally cost $89.96. But those sold for $400 to $500 each.

The rifles and knives were purchased with a combination of state funds and donations to the Department of Agriculture by various farm organizations — part of a lavish 2008 convention of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture convention held at the Marriott Griffin Gate Resort in Lexington.

Farmer, a star basketball player at Clay County High School who went on to play for a beloved UK team known as "The Unforgetables," served as agriculture commissioner from 2004-11 and hosted the convention.

13 guns and 16 knives were auctioned in Frankfort from former Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer. By Michael Clevenger, The Courier-Journal
By Michael Clevenger, The C-J

The convention's costs were a focus of a special report returned two years ago by state Auditor Adam Edelen. The report found that Farmer ordered the excess gifts be purchased with the intent of taking them for himself.

The audit triggered a federal investigation that concluded with Farmer pleading guilty last fall to two counts of misappropriating public funds. Earlier this year he was ordered to pay $120,500 in restitution to the state and to serve 27 months in federal prison. He began serving that sentence in West Virginia in March.

The guns and knives reverted to the department's possession at the end of Farmer's criminal case. Current Agriculture Commissioner James Comer said he decided to auction them to raise money for an urban garden — a project he said he will detail in a few weeks.

"We're tickled to death to raise that much money," Comer said following the auction. "This helps turn something bad into something good. It's a good day for taxpayers."

Comer also said that other gifts for the convention that were returned to his department include two cases of bourbon, but he said alcoholic beverage laws prevent it from being sold at public auction. He said he plans to donate the bottles to charities to use as fundraising prizes.

Reporter Tom Loftus can be reached at (502) 875-5136. Follow him on Twitter at @TomLoftus_CJ.